Defense admits Skylar Deleon killed ham radio couple

A strange twist in the trial of the man accused of killing an Arizona ham radio couple to steal their boat.

Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW has more:

On Tuesday, October 7th the attorney for Skylar Deleon said that his client is guilty of those two murders and a third, but shouldn't be put to death. Defense attorney Gary Pohlson said in his opening statement on that his only goal is to save Deleon's life.

Skylar Deleon is accused of the 2004 murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks, KD7VWJ and KD7VWK, in order to steal their yacht. He is also accused of the 2003 killing John Jarvi from whom he stole thousands of dollars. Deleon has
pleaded not guilty to murder and murder for financial gain.

Under California criminal law, having attorney Pohlson admit that his client is guilty of all three murders is not the same as entering a guilty plea.

Pohlson said he will dispute some details of the prosecution case. He will likely argue that Deleon should not face the death penalty because others involved will have different outcomes of their cases. He will instead urge that Deleon be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole instead.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Deleon. They say that he was the mastermind that came up with the plan to kill the Hawks after learning they were preparing to sell their 55 foot yacht.

They say Deleon pretended to be interested in buying the nearly half-million-dollar vessel. He then enlisted the help of two men to overpower the Hawks on a demonstration
cruise. Deleon then forced the couple to sign over paperwork for the yacht before killing them at sea.

Attorney Pohlson said outside court that he admitted Deleon's guilt to the jury to maintain credibility. This, when he argues that they should spare his client's life. Prosecutors say that they were not surprised by the defense's strategy in the case.

Bruce Tennant, K6PZW
Amateur Radio Newsline
Los Angeles

Deleon's former wife Jennifer was convicted and sentenced to a pair of life sentences without the possibility of parole. She was found guilty on two counts of first degree murder on November 17, 2006.
(Various published news reports)